Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern/A Song on the Ivy and the Holly

A SONG ON THE IVY AND THE HOLLY.

Nay iuy, nay, hyt shall not be, I wys,
Let holy hafe þe maystry as þe maner ys.

Holy stond in þe hall fayre to behold,
Iuy stond w^tout þe dore, she ys ful sore a cold.
⁠Nay iuy, &c.
Holy & hys mery men þey dawnsyn & þey syng,
Iuy and hur maydenys þey wepyn & þey wryng.
⁠Nay, &c.
Ivy hath a lyve she laghtyt w^t þe colde,
So mot þey all ha fae þ^t w^t jvy hold.
⁠Nay iuy, nay, hyt, &c.
Holy hat berys as rede as any rose,
The foster þe hunters kepe hem fro þe dos.
⁠Nay iuy, nay, hyt, &c.
Iuy hath berys as blake as any slo,
Ther com þe oule & ete hym as she goo.
⁠Nay iuy, nay, hyt, &c.
Holy hath byrdys a ful fayre flok,
The nyghtyngale, þe perpyinguy, þe gayntyl lauyrok.
⁠Nay, &c.
Gode iuy what byrdys ast þ^u?
Non but þe howlat þ^t kreye how how.
⁠Nay iuy, nay, hyt shal not, &c.